Scope and Content Note

This is a full-length version of the film Fidel: The Untold Story. The complete documentary is contained on 6 positive film reels, 6 film negative reels, and 6 sound track reels.

Scope and Content Note

A film of the event honoring Estela Bravo, focusing on the release of Anecdotes about Fidel at the Paley Center for Media. Bravo speaks with Pat Mitchell about her life and career, and responds to questions from the audience. Clips are shown from  Anecdotes about Fidel; There are also clips from other films that have dealt with Cuban-American relations, such as  Miami-Havana,  The Cuban Excludables, and  Operation Peter Pan: Flying Back to Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Content of this DVD is born-digital. Advanced notice is required to access these materials.

Scope and Contents

This video features an interview with baseball player Hank Aaron. At the beginning, Aaron briefly introduces himself and discusses his baseball career. The bulk of the interview focuses on Aaron's impression of Cuba and Fidel Castro. Aaron describes traveling to Cuba to film a documentary about Cuban baseball players, and describes the quality of education and baseball training he observed while in Cuba. He also discusses meeting Fidel Castro, and speaks specifically about Castro's athletic ability. Aaron also talks briefly about the poor diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, and argues that lack of trade and freedom of movement between the countries has contributed to the suffering of Cuban people and their family members in the United States.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:01.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 4 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:29:22; Part 2 - 00:08:00; Part 3 - 00:00:09; Part 4 - 00:01:25.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview Philip Agee begins by talking about his work for the CIA and the fallout after the publication of his book Inside the Company. He discusses his opinions about Fidel Castro and interest in Cuban life and culture. For the bulk of the interview he talks about United States policy toward Cuba and CIA efforts to overthrow Fidel Castro. He also touches on controversy surrounding the Kennedy assassination and discusses Americans' views about the Cuban revolution.

Biographical / Historical

Ricardo Alarcón is a Cuban politician who served as Cuba's representative to the United Nations and President of Cuba's National Assembly.

Scope and Contents

This video features a portion of an interview with Ricardo Alarcón. The recording does not start at the beginning and appears to only contain a portion of a larger interview. In this portion, Alarcón addresses Estela Bravo's questions about criticism of Cuba's lack of free press by comparing Cuba's press with privately owned newspapers in the United States. He criticizes the United States electoral system, which he contrasts with Cuban local elections. In the second half of the interview he talks about Cuba's role in Latin America, discussing both support for the Cuban government and opposition from what he describes as counter-revolutionary movements. He also talks about the significance of Fidel Castro's beard and his predictions for Cuba's future after Castro's presidency.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:51.

Scope and Contents

This video features segments of two separate interviews. The first interview features Cuban politician Ricardo Alarcón. In this brief segment, Alarcón discusses Fidel Castro's personal appearance as a symbol of the revolution, the numerous assassination attempts made against Castro over the years, and the reasons many powerful people have expressed interest in meeting him. At minute 12:42 the footage changes to an interview with Castro's translator Juanita Vera García. García discusses how she became Castro's translator, and talks about what it is like to travel with Castro and act as interpreter for some of his long public speeches.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:09.

Biographical Note

Juan Almeida Bosque (1927-2009) was an important figure in the Cuban Revolution and later a Cuban official. He was the only Afro-Cuban to participate in the attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953, and was also among the revolutionaries who participated in the 1956 Granma Yacht landing. He was later appointed the commander of the Third Front. During the US-sponsored Bay of Pigs operation in April 1961, Almeida commanded the Cuban military's Central Army. Later a prominent figure in the Communist Party of Cuba, Almeida was, at the time of his death, Vice-President of the Cuban Council of State and its third ranking member.

Scope and Content Note

This interview is in Spanish. Juan Almeida, who met Fidel Castro in 1952, shares personal stories about his relationship with Castro and talks about his earliest memories of the political situation in Cuba leading up to the revolution.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:53.

Scope and Content Note

In this part of the interview, Almeida discusses the Cuban revolution, including his memories of the Moncada attack and the Granma landing.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:11:45.

Scope and Content Note

In this portion of the interview Juan Almeida shares stories about Fidel's relationships with such figures as Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos. He also provides other anecdotes and concludes with a discussion about his personal relationship with Fidel Castro.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:33:22.

Scope and Content Note

In this portion Juan Almeida talks about Fidel Castro as a symbol of the revolution, briefly discussing the significance of Castro's beard. He also talks about Castro's views of justice, his support of Angolan independence, and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. He later discusses his feelings surrounding Castro's failing health.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:04:56.

Historical/Biographical Note

Born Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad Martinez Hoya, Alicia Alonso (1921 - ) is a Cuban prima ballerina and choreographer. She and her husband lived in New York City for a time where she trained at the School of American Ballet. In 1959 they returned to Cuba. Fidel Castro invited her to head a new dance school (Ballet Nacional de Cuba).

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:36.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:24:30.

Historical/Biographical Note

Francisco Gonzales Aruca (1941-2013) was a Cuban-American economist. He was a student at a Jesuit school in Havana at the time of the Cuban Revolution. He joined the counterrevolution and was arrested in 1961 by the Castro government. His political ideology later shifted in favor of the Cuban government, and he started the company Marazul Charters in New York with a goal of uniting fractured Cuban families.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview Francisco Aruca discusses people's polarized views of Fidel Castro. He discusses his own feelings about Castro, and spends some time talking about Castro's curiosity for politics. In the interview Estela Bravo asks Aruca about the slogan "No Castro, No Problem." Aruca talks about what he believes are problems with the sentiments behind the slogan, and suggests that in the present political climate, Cuba would be destabilized without Castro.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:46.

Scope and Content Note

Estela Bravo interviews Miguel Barnet, Cuban writer, novelist, and ethnographer. The interview is mostly in Spanish, but Estela Bravo speaks English at times.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:14:23.

Scope and Contents

This video contains portions of an interview with singer Harry Belafonte and his wife Julie Robinson. The interview begins with an anecdote about Belafonte bringing Fidel Castro a gift of cheese, and the caution with which Castro's body guards viewed the gift in light of the numerous assassination attempts that have been made against Castro. The bulk of the interview focuses on Belafonte's travels to Cuba with his family. He discusses his musical performances, and his children's enjoyment of Cuban culture. Robinson discusses bringing her parents to Cuba, and their request to be buried there after they died.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:17:41.

Historical/Biographical Note

Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn (1925 – 2014) was a British socialist and member of the Labour Party who served in House of Commons in the 1960s and 1970s. A leading member of Britain's anti-war movement, Benn opposed the isolation of Cuba and was an admirer of Fidel Castro.

Scope and Content Note

In the beginning of the interview Estela Bravo talks with Tony Benn about the initial reception of the documentary Fidel: The Untold Story, and the negative reaction Cubans in Miami had to the film. The official interview begins around minute 4:45. Benn begins by talking about his interest in watching the Cuban Revolution, and the impact it has had around the world in the years following. Much of the interview focuses on Benn's views about Fidel Castro and his leadership in Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:59.

Historical/Biographical Note

Carlos Alberto Libanio Christo, O.P. (1944), better known as Frei Betto, is a Brazilian writer, political activist, liberation theologist, and Dominican Friar. He has been involved in various international efforts to support an understanding between Marxism and Christianity. During a visit to Havana in the 1980s, he met with Fidel Castro many times and, later wrote Fidel and Religion.

Scope and Content Note

Primarily an interview with Carlos Alberto Libanio Christo (Frei Betto). The final few minutes are a portion of Estela Bravo's interview with Philip Agee.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:04.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:25:24.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:16.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:00.

Scope and Contents

This video features a portion of an interview with Peter Bourne. Bourne begins with a lengthy discussion about the custody struggle over Elián González and the United States decision to return him to Cuba. He talks about the ways in which the struggle shifted Americans' perceptions of both Cuba and the exile community in Miami. The conversation then shifts to a general discussion about the way American opinions about Cuba are shaped by the press, which Bourne contrasts with that of other Latin American countries. The second part of the interview focuses on human rights in Cuba, healthcare, and education. He also briefly discusses why some Cubans have left the country, the Cuban economy, and the waning support Cuba received from the Soviet Union beginning in the 1980s.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:33.

Scope and Contents

This interview with Peter Bourne begins with a discussion about Cuba's interest in supporting African independence movements and perceptions of Fidel Castro in the third world. Bourne describes Castro as an elder statesman among nationalist leaders in developing nations, and discusses his image as a role model for other young leaders. He then turns to a discussion about Castro's meeting with Pope John Paul II, describing the dynamic between the two men and the motivations behind the meeting. Bourne speaks about Castro's leadership in Cuba addressing concerns about human rights, and Castro's role as a leader in the post-colonial era. He ends with a brief discussion about the history of American influence in Cuba and his expectations for Cuba's fate after the United States lifts the trade embargo and after Castro leaves office.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:40.

Biographical note

Peter Bourne is an English physician who has worked with the Cuban government as chair of the Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba (MEDICC).

Scope and Contents

In this interview segment Peter Bourne discusses Fidel Castro's role in the Caribbean and his image as a leader. He begins by discussing Castro's relationship with revolutionary leaders like Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Maurice Bishop in Grenada, and explains that Castro was reluctant to support revolutionary movements in Latin America and the Caribbean after the Nicaraguan revolution. Bourne also discusses Castro's physical image, and speaks briefly about his decision to stop smoking cigars and wearing military fatigues. In the second half of the interview Bourne discusses Cuban elections, and the medical training Cuba provides to students in Latin America.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:29.

Scope and Contents

In this portion of an interview with Peter Bourne, Bourne discusses the life of Fidel Castro and his experience as Castro's biographer. Bourne begins by talking about Castro's childhood and relationship with his parents. He also discusses Castro's experience at the University of Havana, and describes corruption at Cuban universities during that era. He discusses the ways in which Castro's upbringing influenced his political ideology, specifically citing his mother's Christianity. Later in the interview Bourne describes the influential women in Castro's life including Mirta Díaz-Balart, to whom he was married for 2 years, and his long-time partner Celia Sanchez. Bourne also talks at length about Castro's character and the impression he makes on the people who meet him. This interview was recorded in London and was not conducted by Estela Bravo, but rather an unidentified man who speaks off camera.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:54.

Scope and Content Note

The bulk of this video features an interview with Peter Bourne. Bourne begins by speaking about the aftermath of the Cuban revolution specifically addressing the refugees and the trials of individuals connected to the Batista government. He also discusses Cuba's support of revolutions in Latin America, Castro's relationship with Maurice Bishop, the custody battle over Elián González, Cuban healthcare, Castro's views on globalization, and restrictions on freedom of speech. At minute 25:00 the video changes to footage of an auction featuring cigar boxes signed by Castro and dated March 3, 2000. At minute 27:35 footage changes to an event calling for the return of Elián González. The event features González's father Juan González Quintana, his grandmothers, and groups of school children performing Cuban songs and dances.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:35:54.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:17:56.

Historical/Biographical Note

Angela Maria Castro (1923-2012) was the eldest sister of Cuban revolutionary leaders Fidel and Raul Castro.

Scope and Contents

This video features an informal discussion and brief interview with Angela Castro and one of her daughters. The beginning of the video features footage of Castro looking through family photographs and identifying individuals featured in the photos. The second half features an interview with Angela Castro's daughter. She discusses the revolutionary period and its impact on Castro's family, discussing her family's concern for Fidel and Raúl, specifically citing their imprisonment following the attack on the Moncada barracks and their exile in Mexico. She also discusses the isolation her family felt during the revolution and her memories of living with her grandparents in Birán during that time.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:24.

Historical/Biographical Note

Tania Frago Castro is the daughter of Angela Castro and a biotechnology specialist and an official in the Cuban Ministry of Health.

Scope and Content Note

Ed Sullivan traveled to Cuba to interview Fidel Castro immediately after his victory in the revolution. Sullivan compares Castro to George Washington and calls him a "gallant young leader."

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Umatic. Duration: 00:11:49.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:27:24.

Scope and Content Note

Angela Davis talks about her experiences in Cuba and her feelings about Fidel Castro. She discusses Cuban Americans and her opposition to the US embargo.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:21.

Scope and Contents

This interview features French actor Gerard Depardieu. Depardieu discusses his impression of Fidel Castro as a leader, and talks about meeting him on three different occasions. He notes that he felt a close connection to Castro, and says that he saw a kinship between himself as an artist and Castro as a political revolutionary. Depardieu ends the interview by wishing Castro a happy 70th birthday, and speculates about what the future will be like for Castro and Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:20:01.

Historical/Biographical Note

Vilma Lucila Espin Guillois (1930-2007) was a Cuban revolutionary, feminist, and chemical engineer. She married Raul Castro in 1959, and later became President of the Federation of Cuban Women and a member of the Council of State of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. She was the most politically powerful woman in Cuba and for many years considered the country's unofficial first lady.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:10.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 2 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:25:24; Part 2 - 00:03:26.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 2 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:22:06; Part 2 - 00:08:55.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:15.

Scope and Contents

This video features footage of still images of Fidel Castro and Alfredo "Chino" Esquivel. The images feature contemporary photographs of the two men shaking hands and greeting each other, and older photos of Castro and Esquivel as young men with their classmates from the University of Havana. This video does not contain any audio.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:20:36.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:23:51.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:13.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:19:28.

Historical/Biographical Note

Tomas Garcia Fuste is an anti-Castro radio and television talk show host. He was part of the first wave of voluntary exiles from Cuba after the revolution, arriving in Miami in 1960.

Scope and Content Note

The initial six minutes consists of background footage of the WQBA-La Cubanisima radio building, where the interview was conducted.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:12.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:44.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:22:40.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:26:22.

Historical/Biographical Note

Randa Haines (1945- ) is a film and television director and producer, most famous for directing the film Children of a Lesser God.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:16:50.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:41.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:01.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:26:55.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 2 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:16:31; Part 2 - 00:12:54.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 4 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:15:11; Part 2 - 00:01:50; Part 3 - 00:00:43; Part 4 - 00:11:41.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:26.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 4 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:05:26; Part 2 - 00:02:35; Part 3 - 00:01:20, Part 4 - 00:01:20.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:52.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:43.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 3 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:08:50; Part 2 - 00:18:34; Part 3 - 00:03:45.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 3 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:22:23; Part 2 - 00:01:32; Part 3 - 00:04:09.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:06:09.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:00.

Scope and Contents

In this portion of an interview the Father Armando Llorente, Llorente shares anecdotes about Fidel Castro when he was a student at el Colegio Belen. He first shares a story about a time Castro saved him while they were trying to cross a flooding river during a school camping trip. He then talks about an incident when Castro was almost expelled because he refused reveal the location of two missing classmates to the school's rector. Llorente explains that the students had left school in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor to volunteer to fight in World War II, and Castro had promised to keep their decision secret. Finally, he looks through a yearbook from Colegio Belen, and points out a description about Castro in the yearbook.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:13:20.

Scope and Content Note

During this interview, Lee Lockwood shows many of his Cuban photographs.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:27:23.

Scope and Contents

This video contains no audio. It features close-up shots of several of Lee Lockwood's photographs of Fidel Castro. Photos largely feature a young Castro at his home, playing sports, giving speeches, and smoking cigars.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:04:17.

Scope and Content Note

Juan Almeida and Jorge Risquet meet with Nelson Mandela, exchanging words of greetings and thanks.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:36.

Scope and Content Note

The footage begins with a 14-minute interview with Wayne Smith followed by almost four minutes of still photos, first of Fidel Castro and Smith, then followed by what appear to be photos in George McGovern's office, including photos of McGovern with Bill Clinton and with Castro. At around 18 minutes, the interview with McGovern begins.

George McGovern speaks in the interview about his first speech in the Senate (1963) on the subject of US-Cuba relations and his continued support for normalization. He talks about his initial meeting with Fidel in 1975, which lasted fourteen hours over the course two days. He later discusses the powerful influence the Miami Cuban community holds in respect to American foreign policy toward Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:25.

Scope and Contents

This interview with Gianni Mina begins with a discussion about Fidel Castro's relationship with Che Guevara. Mina explains that Castro only discussed his professional relationship with Guevara, and notes that Castro expressed his disagreement with Guevara's decisions to support revolutionary movements in the third world. In particular he noted that Castro thought Guevara was impatient in his efforts to support revolutionary movements in Bolivia. The second half of the interview focuses on Castro's meeting with Pope John Paul II. Mina discusses the reasons he thought the two men sought the meeting, and what each gained from the encounter. The video ends with a discussion about the role of the Catholic church in Latin America.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:07.

Historical/Biographical Note

Jesus Montane Oropesa (1923-1999) was a Cuban revolutionary who participated in the Moncada assault on July 26, 1953, and remained a close friend and confidant of Fidel Castro.

Biographical note

Luis Ortega is a Cuban writer living in Miami.

Scope and Contents

In this interview Luis Ortega largely discusses the relationship between Cuba and the United States. He argues that what Cuba needs most is not internal political reform, but rather a change in the United States foreign policy toward Cuba. He argues that the United States needs to respect Cuban sovereignty by lifting the blockade and improving diplomatic relations with the Cuban government. Ortega states that he does not think Castro believes in Communism, but rather adopted the political structure in opposition to the United States. He suggests that by aligning with the Soviet Union Castro hoped avoid a US funded coup similar to the overthrow of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala. At the end of the interview he discusses his writing career and how his opinions toward Cuba have changed over the years.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:01.

Scope and Contents

This video features portions of interviews with Luis Ortega and Max Lesnik. The interview with Ortega begins where the footage from tape ref227 ends and runs until minute 16:30. In this portion of the interview he discusses the Cuban community in Miami, and the polarized opinions about Fidel Castro that the community holds. He also talks about the custody battle over Elián González and the image of Fidel Castro as a figure of anti-imperialism in Latin American. At minute 16:31 the footage changes to an interview with Max Lesnik. Lesnik describes his acquaintance with Castro at the University of Havana, where they were classmates. Lesnik discusses Castro's politics during that era, and the inspiration Castro drew from the political leader Eduardo Chibás and the writings of José Martí. The video quality is poor during portions of this interview.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:08.

Biographical Note

Percival Noel James Patterson (1935 - ) is a Jamaican politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006.

Scope and Contents

This video features footage of an event in Mandela Park in Kingston, Jamaica. In the video Fidel Castro is presented with a key and a certificate, and Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson welcomes Castro to the city. Patterson delivers a speech thanking Castro for contribution to the fight against apartheid, his support of independence in third world nations, and Africa in particular. He discusses the common bonds between Cuba and Jamaica caused by their shared history of colonization and plantation society, and pledges to help Cuba improve its relationship in the western hemisphere.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:14:20.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:01:52.

Scope and Content Note

Sydney Pollack begins by talking about the many failed attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. He later describes his efforts to make a film in Cuba, and discusses difficulties imposed by US regulations. He mentions the Helms-Burton Act, and speculates about Bill Clinton's views about Castro. Toward the end, Pollack attempts to provide a succinct description of Castro.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:16:46.

Scope and Contents

This video features portions of an interview with Abel Prieto. In the interview Prieto discusses Fidel Castro's interest in studying prominent historical figures like Napoleon and Churchill as well as the history of indigenous peoples and the working class. Prieto discusses his experience traveling internationally with Castro, and the positive and negative perceptions of Castro in the world. He describes Castro as a polarizing figure and talks about perceptions of Castro in Florida, and Miami in particular. Prieto also describes Castro's competitive spirit, and in the second half of the interview he discusses what he thinks Cuba will look like after Castro's presidency. He discusses his optimism for the future of Cuba after Castro, citing strong party unity and active participation from young voters. He also talks about Cuba moving toward a new kind of socialism.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:56.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:13:48.

Scope and Contents

This video features a brief interview with Cuban athlete Ana Fidelia Quirot. Quirot begins by talking about meeting Fidel Castro and traveling to the United States as an athlete. She discusses meeting international athletes throughout her career and the reception she has received from other athletes, notably Americans, as a Cuban. She shows Estela Bravo several of her awards. After minute 11:20 the interview ends and focuses on still images of Quirot and Fidel Castro. The end of the video shows Quirot training with her coach.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration 00:24:35.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:39.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:44.

Scope and Contents

This video features footage of former U.S. Representative Charles Rangel in his office speaking with Estela Bravo. The video begins during the final minutes of a formal interview, but the bulk of the video features Rangel and Bravo speaking informally. Rangel shares a few stories about his political relationship with the Catholic Church. Other footage includes Rangel making phone calls and shots of photographs in his office.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:07:38,

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:56.

Historical/Biographical Note

Jorge Risquet Valdes (1930 - 2015) joined Fidel Castro's guerrillas in the Sierra Maestra in mid-1958 and, since the revolution, has held senior positions in the Cuban army and the Communist Party. One of Castro's most trusted officials, Risquet was Cuba's chief diplomat in Africa from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Historical/Biographical Note

Marta Rojas (1928- ) is a Cuban journalist and author who witnessed and reported on the Moncada trial. She has worked for Granma and was a war correspondent in Vietnam.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:35.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:03.

Scope and Content Note

Estela Bravo speaks with Arthur Schlesinger about such topics as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the US embargo of Cuba, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the possibility of normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:57.

Scope and Content Note

Schlesinger continues to discuss the US embargo on Cuba. He speaks about an incident involving Mayor Rudy Giuliani during Castro's visit to New York and toward the end discusses Castro's legacy.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:17:10.

Historical/Biographical Note

Maximo Francisco Repilado Munoz, known as Compay Segundo, (1907 – 2003) was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer. He first became well known in the 1950s as the second voice and third player in Los Compadres. He was later introduced to much of the world on Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club album.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:50.

Scope and Content Note

Footage includes an event that appears to be a celebration of Compay Segundo's birthday.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:00.

Biographical note

Stanley Sheinbaum (1920-2016) was an American human rights activist and political donor.

Scope and Contents

In this interview Stanley Sheinbaum begins by introducing himself, his work as an economist, and his path to political activism following the Vietnam War. He discusses his personal background including his work organizing the Pentagon Papers defense for Daniel Ellsberg, organizing the American Civil Liberties Union in Los Angeles, and serving as Los Angeles Police Commissioner. He then discusses his political connections with Democratic politicians George McGovern and Bill Clinton. The bulk of the interview focuses on Sheinbaum's travels to Cuba and his interest in the Cuban community in Miami. He discusses the politics of the Miami Cuban community, and at the end of the video discusses his meeting with Cuban politician Ricardo Alarcón, and later Fidel Castro.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:55.

Historical/Biographical Note

Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (1912 – 2003) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress (ANC), serving at times as its Secretary-General and its Deputy President.

Historical/Biographical Note

Lionel Soto Prieto (1927-2008) was a Cuban revolutionary, historian, diplomat and professor. He was imprisoned during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Released in 1959, he held positions within the Communist Party of Cuba and the Cuban government, including representing Cuba as ambassador to the Soviet Union and Great Britain.

Scope and Content Note

This tape contains a 30-minute interview between Estela Bravo and Ted Turner in Atlanta. The initial 14 minutes involve Bravo showing Turner old footage to refresh his memory of his past visits to Cuba. The remainder of the interview involves Turner responding to questions and talking about Fidel Castro, and his views on normalizing relations with Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:00.

Historical/Biographical Note

Ben Treuhaft is a musician, activist who organized efforts to send pianos to Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:20:40.

Historical/Biographical Note

Angel Fernandez Varela a teacher of Fidel Castro's who taught at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Havana. An opponent of the Castro government, he was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to his son, Alvaro Fernandez, Valrela had been one of the CIA agents who secretly introduced among the Cuban population a false decree stating that they would lose parental authority, leading to Operation Peter Pan in the 1960s.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:06:54.

Scope and Contents

In this portion of an interview Angel Fernandez Varela, Varela discusses the anti-Fidelista sentiment in Miami, and the way the opinions about Castro have changed in the Miami Cuban community. He suggests that anti-Fidelistas are still the majority in Miami, but those in favor of Castro are increasing. He addresses criticism of Castro as a dictator, and contends that he does not consider dictators frightening. He also discusses returning to Cuba in 1993. He describes meeting Castro again, and describes their meeting as amiable. In the second half of the interview Estela Bravo shares a yearbook from Colegio de Belén during the years when he was a teacher of Fidel Castro. Varela looks through the yearbook and shares stories about students and his memories at the school.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:56.

Scope and Contents

This video contains a segment of an interview with novelist Alice Walker. Walker begins with a discussion about Cuban education and efforts to spread literacy to the elderly. She also discusses her impressions of Cuba during various visits she took to the island. She discusses her first visit in 1978, and explains that she was dismayed by how many white men held positions of power and the government's treatment of gays. She later discusses meeting Fidel Castro on subsequent trips to Cuba with delegations brining medical supplies.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration 00:13:25.

Historical/Biographical Note

The Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr. (1930-2010), a Baptist minister, founded Pastors for Peace. At the invitation of Fidel Castro in 2000, Rev. Walker formed and headed the committee that allowed US students from underserved communities to study medicine at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Recording is divided into 3 access DVDs. Duration: Part 1 - 00:04:50; Part 2 - 00:01:27; Part 3 - 00:03:46.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:35.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:17.

Scope and Contents

This video features a press conference in Miami announcing the departure of the second Caravan for Peace. The press conference features a statement by Baptist minister Lucius Walker, leader of Pastors for Peace who organized the caravan. Walker begins by celebrating the contributions of aid from Americans opposed to the US trade embargo against Cuba. Walker describes the extent of aid and provides some explanation the purpose of the aid and how it will be distributed. Also featured in the press conference is Andres Gomez of Antonio Maceo Brigades, which also participated in the caravan.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:21:27.

Brooklyn Academy of Music: Fidel Documentary Question and Answer   TW_TAM_616_ER_6

Scope and Content Note

In this footage, Fidel Castro is sitting for a portrait on his 70th birthday. This lengthy footage consists primarily of Castro speaking about a variety of subjects. It also features footage of news photographers, including Estela Bravo, to whom he appears to be speaking. He talks about his recent trip to the United States, describes an event where Yasser Arafat was asked to leave Lincoln Center, and talks about how he would have reacted if he been asked to leave. As the footage progresses, it is possible to see the progress of the portrait.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:34:00.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:25.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:42.

Scope and Content Note

This brief clips shows a greeting in Durban between Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro. There are two versions, one with music and one without.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:02:32.

Scope and Contents

This video begins with on-the-street interviews in Soweto, South Africa with individuals gathered in anticipation of a visit by Fidel Castro. Interviewees explain why they are excited to see Fidel Castro, and several express their gratitude for Cuba's support of the fight against the apartheid government. The footage then changes to show Castro's arrival. The end of the video provides approximately 10 minutes of a rally honoring Castro. The speakers welcome Cuban and South African leaders and affirm the friendship between the two nations. Speakers also celebrate the memory of the Cuban revolution and Cuba's role in supporting democracy in South Africa.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:26:52.

Scope and Contents

This video begins with footage of Fidel Castro at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Durban, South Africa. The first 10 minutes feature Castro greeting other delegates and walking through crowds. At minute 10:32 the footage changes to portions of Castro's speech at the summit, which contains overlapping footage from video ref133. In the speech Castro calls for reforms with the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. He likewise criticizes wealthy nations, the United States in particular, for the proliferation of weapons, destruction of the environment, and the abuses of market capitalism.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:28:47.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:00.

Scope and Contents

This video features a series of clips of South African president Nelson Mandela visiting Cuba. The video begins with footage of Mandela arriving in Cuba where he is greeted by Fidel Castro. The bulk features Mandela and Castro at addressing crowds across Cuba, but does not contain any complete speeches. Much of the audio captured in these clips features informal discussions between the two leaders as they travel to different venues. Footage at the end of the video features Fidel Castro during a visit to South Africa, and ends with a segment of footage shot sometime earlier in which Mandela asks Castro to visit South Africa.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:48.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:06:00.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:17:44.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:50.

Scope and Contents

This video features a small portion of a speech by Fidel Castro at a ceremony celebrating the opening of Mandela Park in Kingston, Jamaica in 1998. Castro discusses European tourism, and argues that development of Jamaican tourism does not compete with tourist economies of other Caribbean nations, but rather represents a good sign for Caribbean tourism in general. Castro is then presented with the gift of a book by Jamaican spelling bee champion Jody-Anne Maxwell.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:06:35.

Scope and Contents

This video contains footage of Fidel Castro arriving to a celebration in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The bulk of the footage shows crowds of Jamaicans waiting along a street for Castro's motorcade to arrive. It also shows Castro arriving and greeting individuals in the crowd. At the end, a man can be heard off camera addressing welcoming Castro to the city.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:11:39.

Scope and Contents

This video features on-the-street interviews with crowds waiting for the arrival of Fidel Castro. In a series of brief interviews Estela Bravo asks individuals why they have come to see Castro speak and their opinions about him as a leader. Many express their admiration for Castro, specifically citing Cuba's role as a leader in education and healthcare in the Caribbean.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 0:24:54.

Scope and Contents

This video features still images of Fidel Castro and an interview with Cuban revolutionary Lionel Soto. The first 10 minutes features shots of still images of Castro with members of his family, including his oldest brother Ramón and his mother Lina Ruz González. Later photos feature Castro speaking to Cuban dancer Alicia Alonso after one of her performances. At minute 10:10 the video changes to an interview with Lionel Soto. Soto speaks about his memories of Castro and the student activist movement at the University of Havana. He describes student activism in period leading up to the Cuban revolution and Castro's role as a leader of that movement.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:01.

Scope and Contents

This video features footage of Fidel Castro's 2000 visit to the Riverside Church in the Harlem. The footage begins with a short speech by Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano welcoming Castro the New York City. The first 14-minutes feature individuals welcoming Castro and the crowd cheering for him and singing "Happy Birthday." At minute 14:30 Castro addresses the crowd and thanks them for their hospitality. He discusses his previous visits to New York City, and talks about several social issues like the blockade against Cuba, and maternal deaths and child malnutrition in the third world.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:29:18.

Scope and Contents

This video features footage from Fidel Castro's visit to the Riverside Church in Harlem in the year 2000. The bulk of the video features footage of the crowd waiting for Castro's arrival. At minute 1:55 Estela Bravo briefly interviews Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano about his opinions of Castro and the reason the crowd at the church is eager to hear him speak. At minute 10:16 the footage changes to an interview with an American diplomat who was part of the negotiations to return Elian González to Cuba. She talks about Castro as a negotiator and her perceptions of working with him on the González case. The footage also shows Fidel Castro arriving at the church and brief welcoming statements from various speakers.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:02.

Scope and Contents

This video features the final portion of Fidel Castro's speech at Riverside Church in Harlem. In this segment he thanks the American people who called for Elián González's return to Cuba, and those who protested legislation strengthening the trade embargo against Cuba. Castro then speaks about inequality and marginalization, which he acknowledges continues to exist in Cuba, and pledges his commitment to ending poor housing conditions and raising standards of living. Finally, he talks at length about what he viewed as overblown news coverage of his handshake with American President Bill Clinton, explaining that it lasted only a brief moment and the two men were simply trying to be polite.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:20:14.

Scope and Contents

This video features a press conference with United States senators announcing the passage of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 also known as the Helms-Burton Act. Footage begins with a brief statement by Democratic Representative Robert Menendez of New Jersey, followed by a congressman from Florida, both of whom celebrate the bipartisan nature of the bill and express their hope that the bill will ultimately lead to the end of Fidel Castro's leadership in Cuba. Senator Jesse Helms ends the press conference describing the provisions of the bill, the restrictions it places on trade with Cuba, and expresses his hope that the bill will expedite the removal of Fidel Castro from power in Cuba.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:12:53.

Scope and Content Note

According to Estela Bravo, this footage is a black and white documentary about the history of Cuba. This footage is not originally from one of Bravo's documentaries, but she used clips from it for her film Fidel.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 01:33:35.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:31:51.

Scope and Content Note

There are a series of black and white clips on this tape. It contains older footage of Fidel Castro.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:10:01.

Scope and Content Note

This video includes five newsreels from ICAIC. They consist of a state visit by Mikhail Gorbachev; a visit by Jesse Jackson including a commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr.; a brief piece of music and dancing; state visit by Socialist Spanish prime minister Felipe Marquez; and a commemoration of Cuban revolutionary fighter and intimate friend of Fidel Castro, Celia Sanchez.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:52:11.

Scope and Contents

This short clip features footage of Fidel Castro speaking to a group of people at a reception. Most of the people speak in English and Castro speaks to them through a translator. He engages in discussions with several individuals on a variety of topics including US trade, production of goods, and agriculture and the use of pesticides. In the second part of the clip Castro speaks to an older man about his approach to public speaking and the ways he tries to connect with the crowd.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:19:39.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 01:02:32.

Scope and Contents

This video features a portion of a speech by Fidel Castro's at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY. The footage begins part-way through Castro's speech. He describes his decision to wear his military fatigues in Harlem, the unwelcoming reception he received from New York's political leaders, and the need to end the blockade on Cuba. He also talks about Cuba's support of independence struggles in Angola and South Africa, and the United Nations lack of recognition for their support. After Castro's speech concludes, footage shows him leaving the church and greeting members of the crowd.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:30:01.

Scope and Content Note

This footage is most likely associated with the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations.

Scope and Content Note

Contains footage of the Cuban Mission reception at the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations in New York.

Scope and Contents

This video features portions of a television program about the Cuban Revolution. It begins by describing the political and economic climate of Cuba prior to the revolution. The program then details events of the revolution, including the siege on the Moncada barracks, Castro's invasion from Mexico, and the revolutionaries in the Sierra Maestra. It then discusses Cuban life and government after the revolution, and describes events leading up to the Bay of Pigs invasion. The program is narrated in English, but is told from a Cuban perspective. The video does not contain a complete version of the program and starts and stops in various places.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:34:42.

Scope and Contents

This video contains footage of Fidel Castro at the home of Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín. The beginning of the video features Castro speaking with Guayasamín in his studio as he works on a portrait of Castro. Subsequent footage features Castro speaking with several individuals, including Estela Bravo, about food and cooking in the kitchen of Guayasamín's home. The bulk of the footage, beginning at minute 33:00, features Fidel speaking to the group about religion, nationalism, and the market economy. He talks in particular about Catholicism and his perception of religion as a vehicle to acquire power. Castro also discusses his memories of the events of the Cuban Revolution.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 01:30:21.

Scope and Content Note

This tape contains assorted clips of Cuban State Council Footage. Clips feature Fidel Castro in various locations interacting with crowds, giving speeches, meeting political dignitaries, and playing basketball and baseball with Cuban citizens. The footage also contains a tribute to Che Guevara from minute 6:30 to 11:30, which features Castro reading Guevara's farewell letter to Cuba and a brief clip of a speech by Guevara. The audio quality of this tape is poor, and only small portions are audible. Video quality also varies from clip to clip.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:41:01.

Scope and Contents

This video features three small clips of Cuban news footage reporting on Fidel Castro's support of revolutionary movements in Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Vietnam. Each clip features portions of audio from speeches Castro delivered while visiting the countries as well as moving and still images of Castro during these trips.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:05:16.

Biographical / Historical

At the time this interview was conducted, Arthur Strimling was a theater teacher and the Artistic Director of Roots & Branches Theater.

Scope and Contents

This video features an assortment of video segments recorded around the year 2000. The first clip briefly shows footage of Elián González receiving a book signed by Fidel Castro, the second features Castro walking in a parade, and the next features part of a speech by US Representative Maxine Waters welcoming Castro to New York City. At minute 7:28 the video switches to footage of an interview with Arthur Strimling. In the interview, Strimling talks about watching Castro speak in Harlem in 1959. He describes the crowds who gathered to see Castro and the reception Castro received from the media and political leaders. Strimling also talks about how his views on Castro changed over the years. He explains that although he has admiration for the economic revolution in Cuba, he is troubled by the country's human rights abuses and repression of political opposition.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:17:30.

Scope and Content Note

According to the Estela and Ernesto Bravo, "Yo Estuve Alli" was a black and white documentary on the history of Cuba. It was not one of their films, but they included several clips from it in Fidel.

Scope and Contents

This video features series of short clips of Fidel Castro at public events. The first event features Castro at a memorial for Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Other clips show him at rallies, greeting crowds, speaking with people on the street, and touring communities.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:12:42.

Scope and Contents

This video features on-the-street interviews with people in Havana, Cuba. In these interviews Estela Bravo asks people what they think the future holds for Cuba. She specifically asks if they think Cuba will remain a socialist country, and whether they believe the Cuban government will retain power after Fidel Castro's leadership ends. The majority express their belief that Cuban government will remain intact. Individuals on the street also discuss their opinions about the Cuba socialism, and the reasons they have stayed in the country when many others have left.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Original Format: Betacam. Duration: 00:22:07.